Today's Special: God's Word!

"The Bible is food for the spiritual life, which needs to be nourished just as your body does."  - Billy Graham

I love watching cooking shows! As someone who enjoys cooking (i.e., trying new recipes, experimenting with different spices and ingredients from around the world, entertaining family and friends, etc.), I'm amazed at the variety of programs both on television and online.

In fact, anytime you bring up the topic of cooking or food in mixed company you're sure to find at least one or two people who will eagerly contribute their own experiences or suggestions to the conversation. It's not surprising because cooking and eating is universal.

Food is also a basic requirement for life. We're all aware of the necessity of food for our physical selves. Along with water, we just wouldn't last very long without it. Still, there's another type of food that you don't hear about quite as much.

This "food" that I'm talking about is: spiritual food. Spiritual food is necessary for our spiritual lives. Similar to the way that food nourishes and replenishes our physical bodies, "spiritual" food nourishes and renews our "spiritual lives."

When I notice that our "physical" food supply is running low, I know that it's time to head out and buy some more. (More than likely, it's my husband and kids who let me know when it's time to go grocery shopping. But that's another story for another day!)

So where does one go for spiritual food? No, you won't find it in any supermarket, nor can it be ordered in a restaurant. You see, you can't purchase it in the sense that you would buy meat or vegetables. Spirtual food may be received, or acquired through the pages of God's Word or, the Bible.

I've known people who've said that they've read the Bible over and over, but have never gotten anything out of it. I tell them that I can see what the problem is. They are "reading" the Bible but not "consuming" it. It's important to glean nourishment from the Bible and not simply use it to gain knowledge as you would a history or math book.

Let me put it this way. If you really want to get enjoyment from a great meal you don't gulp it down. Taking time to inhale the aroma, chewing the food slowly, and tasting the flavor all enhance the experience. The same applies to receiving spiritual nourishment from the Bible.

Now, don't get me wrong. When I mentioned "consuming" the Bible I didn't mean to attack and tear through it. Just like "physical" food, we must slow down and process what we read if we are to get anything out of it. Read a passage slowly, break it down, and think about it.

Yes, there will be passages that are more difficult to understand than others, but don't let that throw you. If you've spent a reasonable amount of time and effort on one and are at a standstill, then press forward. Pray to God for clarity and return to it later. Think of it as finding a stray bone in your food. Don't let it ruin your meal, Simply take it out, and continue on.

We need sustenance for our Christian lives. Without it, as our physical bodies would eventually wither and die without food, so too our spiritual lives. God gave us His Word for our spiritual provision. Open your Bible and let Him replenish and refresh your spirit today!

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 10:3; John 6:63; 1 Timothy 4:6; Matthew 4:4

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I come to you today for Your nourishing Word; refresh my spirit and fill me up with Your loving mercy and grace. I am ready to receive all that You desire to provide. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Makinzie

Video - Beth Moore: Stand on His Name, or Stand on Your Shame

Bible teacher and speaker Beth Moore explains why legalistic living leads to perpetual shame. Another inspirational message!  ~Eve

Though Tomorrow May Be Uncertain...

"In this quest to seek and find God in all things, there is still an area of uncertainty. There must be. If a person says that he met God with total certainty and is not touched by a margin of uncertainty, then this is not good."   - Pope Francis

The time immediately following Christ's crucifixion was replete with fear, confusion, and uncertainty for his followers. No one was certain what the future would hold, They had split up and/or gone underground to avoid detection, and arrest. Everything had happened so quickly that none had fully made sense of it all (Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27).

Similarly, we've all faced uncertainty in our lives at one time or another. In general, things such as: job loss, death of a spouse, loss of a home or car, loss of health, and financial debt, among many, tend to weigh heavy on our minds. What this tells us that even the best-laid plans don’t always work out.

Proverbs 27:1 tells us that tomorrow's intentions are not a sure thing. This doesn't mean that we can't, nor shouldn't plan ahead, but that we should not presume that all will turn out as planned. Case in point: Christ's disciples. Though Jesus had basically told them what was coming, they were not overly concerned about it (John 7:33; 13:33). They truly expected that all would continue on.

I think it is safe to say that uncertainty is as much a part of our lives as life itself. You and I, with our limited human understanding, cannot foresee what tomorrow will bring. As the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "for now we see through a glass darkly..." For us, as Christians, the future is unknown, but one day we will know.

A dictionary definition of uncertainty is: "a feeling of doubt or uneasiness about the future." Having no idea what lies around the corner can trigger our innermost doubts and fears. Yes, facing uncertainty can be frightening, but we don't have to face up to it alone.

In Hebrews 13:5-6, Jesus has assured us that, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So what we may boldly say, the LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."  With all that we encounter during our lives, it's comforting to know there is One who will sustain us through it all.

Therefore, when confronted with uncertainty, or any other struggles in life. we can always turn to Him who is perpetually at our side. During your times of uncertainty and confusion keep these promises in mind: Isaiah 40:29-31, "His power will be there for us;" and Isaiah 43:2, "His presence will be with us." 

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22; Romans 1:20; Philippians 4:4

Prayer: Dear Jesus, though I have no idea where life will take me tomorrow, and the path is distorted and unclear, I know that I can always count on You to lead me safely, and gracefully, to where You desire that I should be. In Your Name I pray. Amen

 God bless you!

Paige

She Was Every Bit His Disciple

"It was not a mere chance encounter. Christ having already left the tomb, must have purposely concealed Himself from all His disciples save the one whom He wanted to see and comfort."  - George Venabbes

"Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils" (Mark 16:9).

No matter how many times I read this passage, I find it inspiring that Mary Magdalene would be the first to whom the resurrected Jesus Christ appeared. Being a woman in an ancient, male-dominated culture had to have made things difficult for her. Even so, she never abandoned Christ.

She was able to witness first-hand many of the proceedings leading up to, and including, the crucifixion. One can only imagine the agonizing, emotional roller-coaster she experienced while witnessing the bogus trial of Jesus, and the events that followed.

How her heart heart must have dropped when she heard Pilate announce Christ's death sentence. And, the sights and sounds of the angry crowd as they beat and humilated him must have tormented her deeply. Yet, through all of this, her love and devotion to Jesus remained steadfast and true.

And, when the hour of Jesus' crucifixion arrived, she was one of the women who positioned themselves close enough to offer comfort. Some might say that since Jesus was the Son of God he wouldn't need anyone else. However, Christ was just as human as you and I. As such, it would make complete sense that on the verge of death, human compassion and company would be a welcomed solace.

That a woman would be the one to whom he would first appear after his resurrection says a lot about Christ. As the earliest witness to his resurrection, she was sent by Jesus to tell the others (John 20:11-18). Due to the lack of any hard scriptual evidence, we can only speculate at other aspects of Mary Magdalene's life.

One thing which we can be certain of is her love and devotion to Jesus. When she went to the sepulchre early that morning, Mary went with no other intentions than to reverently seek and touch her Lord one last time (John 20:1). Soon after, her faith was reassured as Jesus stood before her (John 20:16,17; Mark 16:10).

Thus, when approaching Christ, we should follow Mary's example. Whether it be in time of need or gratitude, we should seek Him earnestly in faith, and perseveringly in heart. Mary Magdalene was every bit a disciple, and her love for Jesus Christ clearly manifests this.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Luke 7:50; 1 Peter 1:8-9

Prayer: Dear Lord, may my faith be full and unreserved, joyful and humble; and let it surrender to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, for I believe in You. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Brandi

Holy Week (Resurrection Day): "Don't Be Afraid...He is Risen!"

"Among the children of God all of them have not a like speed. Some of them get a sight of Christ before others. But whoever they be that have the life of God in them, and so are walking on towards Him, they shall, either first or last, meet with Him without doubt."   - Samuel Rutherford




From an Easter address filmed in Jerusalem (1960), Rev. Billy Graham shares the triumphant message of the Resurrection, reading from John 19-20 and I Corinthians 15.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. (Matthew 28:5-6)

As we honor this day, let us keep in mind that the Resurrection serves as evidence that the promise of an eternal home in Heaven is possible only by receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior. May God bless you all!

- The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry

Holy Week Saturday: His Body Rests In the Tomb

"Come, and see the victories of the cross. Christ’s wounds are thy healings, His agonies thy repose, His conflicts thy conquests, His groans thy songs, His pains thine ease, His shame thy glory, His death thy life, His sufferings thy salvation."  - Matthew Henry

Holy Saturday dawned quietly. Only yesterday, Jesus had been taken into custody, tried before the governor of Rome, then brutally beaten, nailed to a cross, and died. Presently, his body lay peacefully in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy follower of Christ (Matthew 27:57-60).

Jesus' body had been taken down from the cross, wrapped in linen and spices (according to Jewish custom), and placed in the tomb by Joseph and Nicodemus, a Pharisee who would himself later became a follower of Christ (John 19:38-40).

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (the wife of Cleophas, and the mother of James and of Joseph), had watched all of this carefully from nearby; for they planned to prepare spices and ointments to anoint Jesus' after the Sabbath because they were not able to before (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47).

What about Jesus' disciples? They had dispersed after his arrest. They went into hiding in order to avoid being apprehended themselves (Mark 14:50). No doubt there was much to comprehend following the shocking series of events leading up to the death of Jesus.

In deep, grief and with hopelessness, the stunned disciples probably wondered what would happen now that their beloved leader and teacher was gone. Their future seemed both unclear, and grim.

But for now, Jesus was at rest from his mission of offering salvation...

Scripture: Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; John 6:44    

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith and glory. And may I always come to your Spirit; loyal and full of hope. In Your name I pray. Amen

May God bless you!

Amber

Holy Week Friday: Goodness Persecuted (Good Friday)

“They bewailed innocence maltreated, goodness persecuted, love bleeding, meekness about to die; but my heart has a deeper and more bitter cause to mourn. My sins were the scourges which lacerated those blessed shoulders, and crowned with thorn those bleeding brows: my sins cried “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” and laid the cross upon His gracious shoulders... ”   - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

It is Friday of the Holy Week. Jesus' last teachings are now complete, he had partaken in the Last Supper with his beloved disciples, and his betrayal by Judas Isacariot (who would shortly take his own life) has been accomplished (Matthew 27:3-5). Now, his arrest and trial by the Sanhedrin would begin the process that would finalize his destiny.

Jesus was bound and delivered to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate (Mark 15:1). By this time the Jews were strongly calling for his crucifixion. Pilate asked what had he done that provoked such a vociferous condemnation from them. They alleged that Jesus had corrupted the nation; refused to pay tribute to Caesar; and claimed to be Messiah, a King (Luke 23:1-5).

Pilate, having no desire to persecute him, tried hard to get Jesus to vindicate himself. However, the Jews were so adamant about putting him to death that Pilate thought it would be dangerous not to do so. So, he had Jesus flogged then handed over for crucifixion (Luke 23:22-25).

The governor’s soldiers led Jesus away. The whole company of soldiers spat on him, tormented and mocked him. Stripping him first, they then dressed him in a scarlet robe, They made a crown of thorns and placed it on his head. Kneeling in front of him, the soldiers taunted him saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:28-29)

Jesus endured some more spitting and beating before they took his robe, and put his own clothes back on him. Then, they led him away to be crucified (Mark 15:19-20). Passing through the city to the place of crucifixion; he bore his own cross. Struggling with his cross, Simon of Cyrene, who was entering the city, was coerced into helping Jesus carry it (Matthew 27:32).

Finally, they arrived at the place called Golgotha (“the place of the skull”). Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh, but he didn't accept it. He was then crucified along with two criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.. The soldiers then divvied up his clothes, casting lots for them (Matthew 27:35).

He made some final statements from the cross (luke 23:34; Luke 23:46). Sometime around mid-afternoon Jesus took his final breath, and gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:50). As dusk, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council asked Pontius Pilate for the body of Jesus. After receiving confirmation of his death, Pilate gave Jesus' body to Joseph.

Jesus was taken down from the cross, carefully wrapped in linen, and carried to a new tomb, cut out of the rock, where his body was lain. It was Preparation Day and the Sabbath would soon be upon them (Luke 23:53-54). A huge stone was then rolled in front of the entrance.

The following day, the chief priests and the Pharisees visited Pontius Pilate. Remembering what Jesus had said about rising after three days, they wanted to make sure that none of his followers would steal his body, thereby giving credence to his words. As a result, Pilate had guards posted in front of the tomb, placing a seal on the stone to secure it (Matthew 27:62-65).

Still in shock, and mourning his loss, Jesus' disciples and followers spent the Sabbath in fear and uncertainty. They had no idea that the next day would be the most eventful they have experienced yet.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 41:10; Romans 8:25; Hebrews 11:1; Romans 8:24-25

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You that you sent your Son to bring me life; and I thank You that all things are possible for those who believe. Amen

God bless you,

Nicole

Holy Week Thursday: This Is My Body, Which Is Given for You...

"Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays." - Andrew Murray

After spending a relatively calm and restful day and evening in Bethany, the following day began peaceful enough. We can think of it as a holy calm before the coming storm. For now the preparations for the Passover Feast were the order of the day, and there was much to be done.

This was the first day of Unleavened Bread, more commonly known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As part of the preparations in the Jewish home, all leaven was removed and only unleavened bread was permitted for use (Matthew 26:17). The many details of the feast required attention that could take the better part of a day to accomplish.

For example, a suitable room was needed. Then, it had to be swept and cleansed meticulously in order to remove any traces of leaven. Oil lamps were brought in, and the lamb, bread, wine, bitter herbs, etc., which were also necessary, needed to be ready. Like any big, celebratory meal, it took time and effort make it happen (Matthew 26:17-19).

It's very likely that when the Lord talked about eating the Passover, the disciples presumed that Jesus was talking about the regular Paschal supper (Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13)  in which the traditional "paschal lamb" was eaten on the established day. They didn't know that Jesus had intended something else entirely.

Jesus sent two of his disciples into the city (Jerusalem) to prepare for the Passover keeping the others unaware of the location until the last possible moment (Matthew 26:18; Mark 14:13). This was done deliberately by Christ in order to prevent Judas from fulfilling his purpose until after the celebration.

After sunset, there in the Upper Room of the house they had found, the group settled in to share the Passover. Jesus already knew that Satan had entered into the disciple Judas Iscariot and would soon betray him (Luke 22:3). Sometime during the meal, Jesus rose from the table and proceeded to wash the feet of his disciples, thereby illustrating how they were to love each another (John 13:3-5).

As Jesus reclines at the table with his disciples, he announces that one of them will betray him (Matthew 26:20-21). At the conclusion of the supper Jesus took bread from the table and held it up so everyone could see. He blessed it, giving thanks to his Father for it, and for what it stands for.

He then broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body" (Matthew 26:26), then offered to share wine from his cup with them after blessing it, as well (Matthew 26:27). Thus, by this demonstration during the Last Supper, the Lord's Supper or Communion was instituted. We can continually remember his sacrifice by partaking in the rudiments of bread and wine (Luke 22:19-20).

Subsequently, with the meal now finished, the group departed for the Garden Gethsemane. It was here that he privately prayed in agony to God (Matthew 26: 39, 42). Not long after this, Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and taken prisoner by the large, armed crowd who had followed him there (Matthew 26:47-50).

Having him in custody, they took Jesus to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest where the teachers of the law and the elders had gathered (Matthew 26:57). It was here, in the early hours of the morning, that Jesus' trial began. The disciple Peter, who had only earlier declared that he would die for Jesus, denied knowing him three times as foretold (Matthew 26:34,35).

Immediately following his third and last denial a nearby rooster crowed, signaling the coming of a new day, And, Peter, lowering his head, began to weep grievously (Matthew 26: 74-75).

Scripture: Proverbs 3:3; Romans 12:2; Titus 3:5; Proverbs 25:26; Romans 10:10

Prayer: Dear Lord, watch over me now, and in times of temptation, so that I may remain under Your protection. Watch over me so that I have hope and joy in You, fully knowing that Your goal for me is true life in You. Amen. 

Have a blessed day!

Billie

Holy Week Tuesday: Confrontation, Parables, and Conspiracy

"The Bible is God’s declaratory revelation to man containing the great truths about God, about man, about history, about salvation, and about prophecy that God wanted us to know. The Bible could be trusted just as much as if God had taken the pen and written the words Himself."  - John F. Walvoord 

It is now Tuesday of Holy Week. The chain of events leading up to this day included Jesus' triumphal entry into the city, the cursing of the fig tree, and the purification of the temple. Now this teacher posed a real threat to the religious leaders; thus expediting the need to challenge his authority and establish a reason to have him arrested (Mark 11:27-28).

Jesus, who has been teaching and preaching to the crowd in the temple, or as he called it "a house of prayer" (Matthew 21:13), was fulfilling prophecy foretold in Isaiah 2:3. It was during this discourse that the priests and elders approached and challenged him. They wanted him to reveal who granted him permission to do what he was doing (Matthew 21:23).

Jesus knew he was not obligated to answer them. He was fully aware that they were trying to bait him into a trap. You see, if Jesus responded that his authority originated from God, they would accuse him of blasphemy. This would be enough to try him on that charge.

On the other hand, if Jesus said that he acted on his own, this would suggest to the people that the priests and elders had the greater authority. But as clever as they thought they were, Jesus turned the tables on them! Instead of the response they had hoped to obtain, he countered with a question of his own (Matthew 21:24-27; Mark 11:27-33).

This surprise move caught them completely off guard; revealing the true intent of their question. They were hoping to get rid of him because he was undermining their power. However, they knew all along who Jesus claimed to be, and who gave him the consent to impart his knowledge ( John 5:36, 43). Certainly, Jesus made no secret of this by both, his words and actions. It was all a ploy to take him down.

Sometime in the afternoon, after finishing his lessons at the temple, Jesus and his disciples headed out of the city towards the Mount of Olives. It was there that he presented the Olivet Discourse. This was a detailed prophecy regarding Jerusalem's destruction, and the end of the age. Again, he taught in parables about the end times, his Second Coming, and the Final Judgement ( Matthew 24:1 – 25:46;  Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36).

What's more, this also marks the day that Judas Iscariot struck a deal with the Sanhedrin to deliver up Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16). Now, after a thoroughly, exhausting day full of confrontations and warnings relating to future events, Jesus and his beloved disciples returned to Bethany for the night.

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:21; James 1:22; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:18; 2 Peter 1:3

Prayer: Dear Lord, gratitude abounds in me today as I consider Your lasting presence in my life; Though all may abandon me You remain faithful always. Thank You for being my Savior and the Sustainer of my soul. Amen.

May God bless you!

Joyce

Holy Week Monday: Cleansing the Temple

"And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple..."  - Matthew 21:12

The Last Week of Jesus tends to be controversial for many who debate about the specific chronological order of events that happened. Needless to say, variances and descrepancies are what they are, and will probably never be resolved on this side of eternity.

Thankfully, we can still consider His passionate display of faith, devotion, and sacrifice during the Holy Week for what they ultimately are: acts of love for us, His children. And that's exactly what we shall continue to do. Therefore, let's continue to focus on what took place after His celebrated entry into Jerusalem.

At some point after entering the city, Jesus paid a visit to the Temple (Mark 11:11). From what we can discern here, the event appears to have occurred on the day after the triumphal entry, which was Monday of the Holy Week. Jesus went to the Temple, but only to observe the activities, and then left. He and the disciples then returned to Bethany where they stayed the night.

The following morning (Monday) Jesus and the twelve ventured out of Bethany (Mark 11:12). Perhaps after a night of prayer and fasting, He was now hungry (or "hungered") and came upon a fig tree which would hopefully provide some tasty, ripe fruit. As he had in the past, a display of his humanity usually preceeded a demonstration of his Divine power.

This time was no different. Upon reaching the fig tree, Jesus saw that although it was full of leaves, it had no fruit (Mark 11:13). His human desire for food had now served up a parable to him as God. Being hungry, he looked for figs on the tree, signifying that he hungered for something that was not there. He immediately related this to the Jewish nation.

Though their teachings were solid, and all appeared fine on the outside, they produced nothing. Naturally, anyone who passed by this lush, green tree would assume that it contained fruit. This barren fig tree illustrated the predicament of the Jews. All leaves; but no fruit. Thus, Jesus cursed the fig tree not for being being fruitless, but for being fraudulent (Mark 11:14).

Returning to Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple (Mark 11:15). Since he wasn't a Levite, it wasn't permissable for him to enter into the most holy place. Therefore, we can infer that when he entered the temple, he actually entered the "courts" that surrounded the temple. Having stopped by the day before, Jesus knew what to expect.

Thus, Jesus began the task of purging the merchants and money-changers from the temple. Interestingly, Jesus purged the temple twice. The first time occurring right after His first miracle, the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana. And at this time, only four days before his death on the cross.

The temple priests had allowed the courts to become a market place of convenience, and a currency exchange for those who came to worship there. In addition, it had become a shortcut of sorts taken by servants and laborers from one side of the city to the other (Mark 11:16). Jesus would have none of this. He regarded his Father's House as sacred, and boldly made his intentions known.

Now the authority and interests of the chief priests and the scribes were under attack. They then began looking into how they might, not only put Jesus to death, but "utterly destroy him," In effect, they would be getting rid of his name and influence as a great spiritual force in the world.

The machinery was now set into motion. However, there was a big problem standing in the way. The fact remained that the people still recognized his power; and this is what frightened the scribes and Pharisees the most.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1; Philippians 3:8; John 5:44; Psalm 33:9; Colossians 1:20

Prayer: Holy Father, You are the Lord, my creator, You are a love without end. You are all grace and forgiveness. Amen

May you have a blessed day,

Phyllis

Friday Faith Check-Up: The Triumphal Reception (Palm Sunday)

"So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”  - John 12:13 (ESV)

During the days of Jesus' ministry on earth, palm branches were symbolic of well-being, goodness, and victory. But as we shall see, palm branches played an even greater role on this, the last weekend before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Over the course of time, biblical scholars have debated the chronological order of events during Holy Week. For the sake of argument and time, we will not attempt to reconcile any such disputes here. Our only concern will be what occurred on what is now commonly known as "Palm Sunday," which is this Sunday, March 20th.

With His three year ministry coming to a close, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Through His work of teaching, preaching the Gospel, and miraculous acts, Jesus had shown that He was the promised Messiah, as foretold in the Old Testament.

Jesus and the disciples now approached Bethphage, a village in the neighborhood of Jerusalem. He was well aware that He would soon be giving His life for the sins of the world. As they drew nearer, Jesus directed two of them to go on ahead and search for a "young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden" and return with it (Mark 11:2).

Prior to this time, Jesus had strongly resisted any efforts to proclaim Him as king (John 6:15), even warning the disciples not to do so, either (Matthew 16:20). However, the moment had now arrived for Jesus to declare himself as the Messiah, the King.

The disciples brought the colt to Jesus, and draped their coats over its back (Matthew 21:7). Steadying the colt for Him, He slowly mounted the unridden, young donkey. Jesus gave a few nudges with his feet against the donkey's sides and He was on His way.

The colt slowly made its way towards Jerusalem with Jesus on its back; the disciples quietly following along. Shortly thereafter, Jesus humbly riding the donkey colt, entered Jerusalem bringing to fruition the ancient prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. It was there as He came into view that the multitude welcomed Him.

As Jesus meekly rode His way through the crowd, the people laid cut palm branches across His path and waved them in the air shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:8-9)

The Bible tells us that they glady welcomed Jesus thinking he was the hoped for political leader (king) who would overthrow the Romans. and not as the Messiah. Their shouts of "Hosanna" meant "please save us now." (John 18:36; Luke 19:40)

As jubilant as this greeting was, Jesus knew that before the week was over this same rejoicing crowd would turn against and crucify Him. He had already accepted what lay ahead for Him. There was no turning back...

Scripture: John 12:14; Luke 19:29; Luke 19:37; Acts 1:12; Matthew 21:10

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we enter into Holy Week brace us with fortitude and gratitude and with the assurance that you are with us always. Amen.

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye

God Wants Our "Dependent" Hearts

"Brokenness is the stripping of self-reliance and independence from God. The broken person has no confidence in his own righteousness or his own works, but he is cast in total dependence upon the grace of God working in and through him."   - Nancy Leigh DeMoss

What really keeps us from developing the kind, or type of relationship with God that we deeply desire? We faithfully attend church, read our Bibles, participate in church activities and outreach programs, even praying daily without fail. What else is there?

If I have just described you, perhaps you've been going along like this for years. Surely, on the surface everything looks great. But, you just might be missing out on experiencing the sort of relationship that God meant for us to have with Him without realizing it.

In general, we tend to be quite independent in nature. We like to think that we are capable of handling our individual needs, and take great pride in our ability to do so. In itself, this is not a bad quality to have. Though, it can be this exact attribute that is suppressing us from enjoying a truly fulfilling bond with God.

I know I'm really simplifying things, but what is hampering our efforts is an "It's all about me" heart and attitude. As long as we have this hard, crusty, outer layer of individual independence from God we're not going to get any closer than where we stand now (James 4:6).

No one can pierce that layer, but us. God can't do it for us. Certainly, He can bring us up to the point of where it is, but only we can crack through it. This involves freeing yourself from your own oneness and surrendering all to Him. We must choose not to follow our own ideas, but pledge our absolute loyalty to Him.

How can we be devoted to Him, if we are only loyal to ourselves? Only when we have brought down all understanding of ourselves, are we then ready to let Him take over. Basically, what occurs here is an intentional signing over of our own rights, so that we become a servant of Jesus Christ.

However, unless we do this we cannot truly receive the full benefits of fellowship with Him. Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone? Are you willing to give yourself over to Christ unconditionally (Proverbs 3:5-6)?

The thought of losing our independence can be a deal-breaker to many. But, if we sincerely want to be "one" with God, that's what must be done. When you decide to relinquish your independent heart to Him, the reality of the supernatural bond with Christ will immediately transpire (John 14:6). Then, you'll wonder why you waited so long to do this!

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26; Matthew 5:8; Psalm 51:10; Romans 1:21; Hebrews 10:22

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I come to you today, yearning for your presence. I want to love you as You love me; and may nothing ever come between us. Amen

God bless you!

Vera

Video - Patsy Clairmont : Are You a Woman of Restraint?

Christian author Patsy Clairmont reminds us we need to invest in each other's lives. Great message!  ~Eve

Total Commitment Is Not For Everyone

"If you do not plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't begin, for this is what Christianity is all about. It is a change of citizenship, a change of governments, a change of allegiance. If you have no intention of letting Christ rule your life, then forget Christianity; it is not for you."   - Kay Arthur

Throughout the course of our daily lives, we might demonstrate commitment in relationships with our families, friends, and co-workers, for example. We may also commit to improving our health, and in things that we might say or do. But, far and away, the biggest commitment we can make in our lives, including those mentioned, is committing our lives to God.

In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus announces that we should totally and obediently commit ourselves to Him. He is telling us in this passage that we are to give every inch of our bodies and souls to loving and serving God . We are not to go only part way, or kind-of-sort-of, but to go all in with everything we have! After all, doesn't He do the same and more for us (John 3:16)?

Make no mistake. If you commit yourself to God, you have to put Him first and above everything else in your life. This is where a lot of people hop off of the bus. They might be willing to do many things, but... There can be no true commitment to God if other commitments, yes, even your family, are placed above Him (Luke 14:26-27; 12:15-20). There are no conditions, bargaining, or compromises with God on this point.

I know this may sound harsh but here's the deal. If you can't make this commitment than you can't be His disciple. That's it, plain and simple. In fact, Jesus warned us that it wouldn't be easy. By committing to God there would be some rough days ahead, some which will definitely push your commitment to its limits (John 15:20; 2 Timothy 3:12).

Like anything of true worth or value, there is a cost. If you desire to be a disciple, you must be willing to pay it. What is it? The cost of committing to Christ is: self-denial; being willing to bear your own cross, that is, putting up with remarks, insults, humiliation, and even punishment. In addition to these, you must be willing to follow Him continually and faithfully (Luke 9:23-24).

As you can see, a total commitment to God is not for the weak, or faint of heart. By making a commitment to Him we are telling the world that Jesus is: our only authority; a lamp for our feet, to guide our path; and our guide through whatever may come before us (Psalm 119:105; Psalm 139:10).

We make many commitments in our lives. Some of them good, others not so much. When we commit ourselves to God, and follow through with what He asks of us, we will find that the benefits far outweigh anything any earthly commitment could ever provide. If you haven't already, won't you commit to God today?

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3; Hebrews 11:6; James 4:8; Romans 1:21; 2 Peter 3:18

Prayer: Holy Father, I pray that You come into my heart and be my Lord, and my Savior. From today on, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow You the rest of my life.

Have a blessed day!

Renay

Humility Comes Before Honor

"Humility, that low, sweet root, from which all heavenly virtues shoot."  - Thomas Moore

One of the most difficult things for us to do is to be humble. It's not easy to do so because we live in world that seems to celebrate the boastful, the egotistical, and the contentious. Sadly, many are taught from a young age that the "pushover" is weak, and that the "squeaky wheel" gets the attention. We must constantly push our way to the front of the line, or risk becoming inconsequential.

But there's something that is being lost in this line of thinking. The individual who quietly and humbly works in the background for the sake of the masses is becoming more and more scarce. Everyone wants to share the spotlight, even to the point of nastiness and acrimony. One being humble, or exemplifying humility is almost seen as an oddity; a relic from some long ago age.

Biblically speaking, humility is described as being meek, modest, or putting others ahead of oneself. In her book of devotions,"Each New Day," recalls one particular meeting with Indian Christian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh this way: When I saw Sadhu Sundar Singh in Europe, he had completed a tour around the world.

People asked him, "Doesn't it do harm, your getting so much honor?" The Sadhu's answer was: "No. The donkey went into Jerusalem, and they put garments on the ground before him. He was not proud. He knew it was not done to honor him, but for Jesus, who was sitting on his back. When people honor me, I know it is not me, but the Lord, who does the job."

In order for us to come to Christ we must do so in humility. Accomplishments, status, and egos don't mean a thing here. Nothing less than our total acceptance in that we are hopeless sinners, with nothing to offer God but our sin and the necessity of salvation, will suffice.

Jesus was the perfect model of humility. He did not come to be served, but to serve. This is a hard concept for many to understand today. It might be easier to ask someone to walk barefoot over broken glass than to put the needs of someone else ahead of themself (Philippians 2:3).

However, biblical humility is essential not only for admittance into the kingdom, but in order to be great therein, as well (Matthew 20:26-27). Thus, when God extends His offer of grace and mercy, we must be ready to humbly accept it and pledge to live for Him, and for others. One must "die to self" in order to live as a new creation in Christ (Galatians 5:24).

Christ was neither embarassed nor hesitant to humble Himself; to be a servant (John 13:1-16). He exemplified humility even up to the point of His crucifixion (Philippians 2:8). It never mattered what was occurring in His life. In his humbleness, He was always faithful to His Father.

And, as He repeatedly demonstrated for us, we too should be willing to set aside our own self-regard and submit to Him. By His actions, Jesus made manifest that true humility produces security, godliness, and contentment.

Scripture: Galatians 2:20; Mark 8:35; John 12:24; Colossians 3:3; Philippians 1:21

Prayer: Dear Lord, cleanse me of all lingering sparks of self-importance that might raise me greater than You; or cause me to see myself greater than anyone else. And, may my heart always imitate Yours in humility. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Gwendolyn

Friday Faith Check-up - God's Presence In Our Lives

“God, Who is everywhere, never leaves us. Yet He seems sometimes to be present, sometimes to be absent. If we do not know Him well, we do not realize that He may be more present to us when He is absent than when He is present.”  - Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island

Those who believe know that there is a divine presence behind our very existence. Our hearts yearn to stay in touch, or connect, if you will, with it. Of course, you and I recognize that  we are talking about God. But some will argue that they cannot interact with something they cannot see, feel, touch, or hear.

They question the ability to communicate Him, and He to us. Sometimes, even we pass through stretches of time in which we feel that we are losing, or have lost His presence. This is neither unusual, nor unheard of. In fact, periods of spiritual leanness may serve as tests of our faith (Job 23:10; 1 Peter 1:7).

God never truly leaves us. He is always there. And although we may be conscious of God's presence, that is not enough. We must also realize that our relationship with Him is a live and active one. As such, it is not enough to simply sit back and let God do all of the work. We must be actively engaged, and become willing participants with Him.

The only type of relationship that is desired by God is a "mutual" one. We never have to worry that He isn't doing His part. No strong relationship can develop without the investment of some time and effort. We are the weak link in the chain. So, what can be done to change, or improve this?

Here's a good start. Try thinking or contemplating about God several times throughout the day rather than only at a designated time. God doesn't have an appointment book, or take reservations. He would love nothing more than to hear from us anytime, day or night.

In addition to prayer and reading Scripture, I keep a journal in which I jot down thoughts as if I were sending a message off to God. I find that it not only helps keep myself focused on Him, but it also allows me to go back and quickly note how He replied to me.

Contrary to what some may think, God is not hidden from us. It's true that in the past, on occasion, God perfomed miracles and spoke directly to people so that He might reveal His character. instructions, and plans. And though He might not currently be speaking out loud to us, or appearing in front of our eyes, He is still very much present!

God's presence is not reserved only for theologians, scholars, and the clergy. We too have access to His presence. But, we must diligently seek it by trusting in Him and His works, reading Scripture on a daily basis, and living by faith (Matthew 16:4; John 20:29; 2 Corinthians 5:7).

Scripture: Exodus 33:14; Jeremiah 29:13; 1 John 4:16; Psalm 73:28; Joshua 1:9

Prayer: Holy Father, I pray to hear from You every day; and that Your Almight presence will always be near me. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye

It's In Our Nature to Sin

"True repentance will entirely change you; the bias of your souls will be changed, then you will delight in God, in Christ, in His Law, and in His people."  - George Whitefield

Why is our world so rebellious? We have a natural tendency to sin. This means that it's in our nature to do so. What makes this even worse is not the fact that we rebel against one another, but that we rebel against God, too.

We are naturally rebellious against God. If  given a choice to follow God's will or our own, we tend to naturally want to do things our way. Our sinful ways are intrinsic to each of us. That's why parents spend so much time and energy teaching their children right from wrong, for example (Psalm 51:5). God certainly has His hands full!

That all of humanity is sinful shouldn't come as a big surprise to anyone. The Bible points this out in Romans 8:3; Colossians 3:5; Romans 6:6. Some may be familiar with this as the doctrine of total depravity. The sad reality is we have all gone astray (Isaiah 53:6).

It wasn't always so. In the beginning, God created us in His image. Originally we were good and without sin (Genesis 1:27). What changed this? It was the disobedience of Adam and Eve, as mentioned in Genesis 3.

Their act of defiance and "rebellion" against God allowed sin to permeate their nature. From then on, Adam's sin nature was passed down through the generations; to all of humanity (Genesis 5:3). Sin also provided an open door for something else to enter our lives: death (Romans 5:12).

The consequences of the sin nature that we are focusing on today is our hostility, or opposition towards God and the plain ignorance of His truth (Romans 8:7-8). Jesus Christ is the only Person in history who did not possess a sin nature. He was spared Adam's curse due to His virgin birth. Jesus went on to live his life perfect and sinless (Acts 3:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:19).

Thanks to Christ we are born again. When we are born (of Adam) we receive his sin nature. The good news is that when we are "born again" in Christ, we inherit a brand new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Does this mean that we are "sin-free" from that point on? Unfortunately, it doesn't.

Our old, ugly sin nature is still with us, and we will continue to wrestle with it the rest of our lives. However, we aren't without assistance in this fight. We have divine help from the Spirit of God. The Spirit lives inside the believer, providing the power to prevail over the urges of our sin nature (1 John 3:9).

Jesus satisfied God's anger toward sin through His death on the cross. His finished work also gave us victory over our sin nature (1 Peter 2:24). By His resurrection, Christ promises life to all who are enslaved by their debased flesh (Romans 6:11).

Scripture: Romans 3:23; Jeremiah 17:9; Galatians 5:17; Mark 7:23; John 8:34

Prayer: Lord, I acknowledge my sins. Lead me back to the way of holiness, and protect me now and always from the torment of sin. Amen

God loves you!

Janice

Video - Sheila Walsh: Peace In Your Brokenness

Author/speaker Sheila Walsh talks about her horrific childhood experience and the peace that broke its power. A powerful message!  ~Eve

Our Deceitful Hearts

"All deception in the course of life is indeed nothing else but a lie reduced to practice, and falsehood passing from words into things."  - Robert Southey

Have you ever heard someone say, "He/She is living a lie?" What this is telling us, is that when someone is "living a lie" they are in essence presenting a false representation of themselves to the world. When one pretends to be something they aren't, they are being deceitful and untruthful. 

The world in which we live is chock-full of lies. This provides a very fertile environment for deceit, and it wastes no time in taking root. Unfortunately, our own hearts provide an excellent location for "self-deception" to grow and prosper as it pertains to our relationship with God. And grow and prosper it does!

The problem with self-deceit is that it can blind us to God's truth. The apostle James warned against this exact thing. He saw this as an inappropriate response to truth (James 1:22); the truth being that God's Word is meant to change us (Psalm 119:11; John 17:17).

There are those who consider themselves religious because they accumulate a lot truth by reading scripture, listening to sermons, etc. They have a false sense of what true religion is about. I'm not saying that it's pointless to do these things, but if you are not being changed by any of it, then you are "living a lie."

One kind of self-deception is a belief that our words don't matter. This is a form of self-decieived (worthless) relgion (James 1:26). Contrarily, by successfully avoiding self-deception we are engaging in true (pure and faithful) religion (James 1:27). God favors our faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6). 

Many Christians are "living a lie" when it comes to religion, and the worst part is that they are fully cognizant of this. Self-deception can be induced by human pride and arrogance. It can be very destructive to our religious lives if it goes unchecked. The by-product of self-deceived religion is an "empty" religion, which is undesirable to God. 

Keeping the Word in our hearts, exemplifying the Word, and persevering in the Word develops character and counteracts self-delusion. Our outward appearance and inward spiritual life can then be reflected in true proportionality of our love for both God, and His truth.

Augustine of Hippo summed this up rather nicely when he said, "Where I found truth, there found I my God, who is the truth itself."  

Scripture: Psalm 101:7; Psalm 120:2; Jeremiah 17:9; 1 Peter 3:10; Jeremiah 9:6  

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for the path You provided me when You laid down Your life in my place. Sanctify me by the truth, Lord; Your Word is truth.  Amen

May your day be blessed!

Charlene

Why Are You in Despair, My Soul?

"The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination."  - Marion Zimmer Bradley

Hopelessness, despondency, and discouragement. No matter the order in which way you arrange these words they all stand for the same thing, "DESPAIR." None of us are strangers to despair. In fact, it's a common occurrence in humankind.

We all have, at one time or another, experienced despair during tough, challenging times in our lives. And, when it does strike it usually leaves us feeling hopeless, despondent, or discouraged about personal matters in our lives, such as our: jobs, marriages/relationships, family, finances, etc.

If it goes unchecked despair can lead to a loss of faith about one's ability to find meaning, fulfillment, happiness, and possibly worse. As I mentioned earlier, none of are unfamiliar with despair. Even Jesus' apostles were not anymore exempt from the grasp of despair than we are.

Despair can be incited by fear. Who can doubt that the apostles found themselves battling despair on an almost daily basis? At times it must have seemed as if there was no way out of the formidable, circumstances that seemed to encompass them. Maybe you're even going through something similar as we speak?

It would be very easy to turn our backs on hope; to slowly give up. The apostle Paul was quite familiar with all of this, believe me. Yet, in 2 Corinthians 4:8, he shares some hopeful words of encouragement to those who may be suffering in the throes of despair. How was he able to keep it together, to be so optimistic and confident?

Paul knew he couldn't depend on anything or anyone in this world to strengthen, encourage, and guide him out of despair. That's a big mistake that many of us make. We count on help from the temporal, or worldly. He knew that the only way out of despair was through his knowledge that God is in control (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Paul learned that it didn't matter whether he lived, or died (Philippians 1:23-24); was in the state of abundance or scarcity (Philippians 4:12-13), He knew that God controlled his life, and that everything he went through would ultimately have eternal meaning (2 Corinthians 4:17).

It's easy to disbelieve God and His promises to provide and deliver us when we've been beaten up by despair. Friends may abandon us, and our enemies might kick us while we are down. But, as Paul was aware of, God will never leave or forsake us.

In times of despair God gives us hope. Regardless of how hopeless or afraid we might be during those dark, despondent times, God gives us the hope that we will soon be able to praise Him and take delight in His goodness (1 Corinthians 13:13).

The GOD'S WORD® Translation bible expresses 2 Corinthians 4:8 as, "In every way we're troubled, but we aren't crushed by our troubles. We're frustrated, but we don't give up." The next time you find yourself struggling with despair remember, "don't give up," God has you covered!

Scripture: Psalm 34:17-20; 1 Peter 5:7; Romans 15:13; Philippians 4:19; Psalm 147:3

Prayer: Dear Lord, I will show Your mercy to others; and I will glorify You by letting everyone know how good You are to me, Your mercy is boundless and no one, no matter how troubled or hopeless they may be,  should ever have reason to despair of Your loving embrace and support. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Makinzie

Friday Faith Check-up - "And So, Let Us Pray"

“God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.”
~ C. S. Lewis

Whenever anyone brings up the topic of prayer in our daily lives they are sure to grab our attention. Prayer is very personal to each of us. The way we pray can be very diverse in style and manner. Most importantly, it's the most intimate connection that we have with God.

From time to time we may hear or read about the demise of prayer. Maybe you have even let prayer slowly slip away from your daily routine. The good news is that prayer is alive and well in the world. For example, according to a 2013 Pew Research Center survey, more than half (55%) of Americans said they pray every day,

Of course, 100% would be better, but if over half of the population is praying, I will take it! Like many of you, prayer was part of my daily routine as a child. I said my prayers every night before going to bed. As I grew older, my prayers became less frequent. My prayers even stopped for a time.

Why am I telling you this? I realize that life changes from day to day. One day you're up, and the next, well...you know! But, I want you to know that a prayer life doesn't just happen. It is developed, and then continues to grow over a lifetime. (I am happy to report that my prayer life is back on track!)

This might sound like there is a certain age when prayer should begin, but there isn't. You can start a daily prayer regimen at any age. God doesn't worry about qualifications or past history when it comes to prayer. Even if you've never prayed in your entire life, you can start today.

We have many ways to communicate today. Marvelous inventions enable us to exchange information faster, and more reliably than past generations. Our world is connected together by a vast network of processing chips, servers, and computer code. We can interact with one another almost anytime and anywhere.

But as incredible as all of this technology is, the best way to communicate with God is still through prayer. When we talk to God through prayer we don't have to worry about dropped calls, weak signals, or bad connections. Prayer is the most dependable line of communication to God there is, or ever will be!

Certainly, we can talk to God during our darkest moments. But, He also likes when we share, or update our lives with Him (James 4:8). Prayer can be an opportune time to confess our sin and ask for His help in overcoming it (Psalm 32:5). It also allows us to express our gratitude for His provision (Psalm 9:1).

We cannot overestimate the importance of  prayer. In fact, it is mentioned over 250 times in the Bible! In addition to those mentioned above, I believe the most important reasons to pray are: it is a personal gesture of worship and obedience (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18); and an admission as to who truly controls our lives (Isaiah 46:9-10; Daniel 4:17).

Wouldn't it be wonderful if one could simply pull up a chair and have a chat with God? We can! It's called praying. And, it's something that we should do on a daily basis. Unlike so many things in life, prayer will cost you nothing except a little time out of your day (Matthew 6:6). Isn't God worth it..?

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3; 1 Timothy 2:5; Luke 11:9; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Prayer: Dear God, may I always be joyful and full of faith, full of hope, full of patience; for your mercy leads me on. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye

Faith Without Trust Is Nothing

"We find faith by not only believing what Jesus says, but, even more, by trusting Jesus Himself."  - Oswald Chambers

How many times have you heard, "Keep up the faith," or "You gotta have faith?" Maybe you're familiar with someone who is a "faithful" Christian, or who "faithfully" attends church services. We tend to toss the term "faith" and its other variations around as easily as a Frisbee, but are we understanding it like we should?

Sadly, the world is full of those who have simply given up on faith. We can only speculate as to why this is so. Maybe their faith was weak, or they had none to begin with. Was their faith was snuffed out by some terrible incident in their life? Perhaps they grew less reliant on faith, and figured they just didn't need it anymore.

Like many things, what once had power, significance, and authority becomes weak, and ineffective over time. Complacency and loss of interest takes root, then unbelief sets in. This can happen to governments, business, personal relationships, and "faith."

Faith is defined beautifully for us in Hebrews  11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We put our trust in something that we can't fully confirm. As they say, this is what separates the men from the boys; the wheat from the chaff, the real players from the wanabees.

Also, faith in God does not come in different flavors like ice cream. However, there are two crucial parts to faith that are worth mentioning: intellectual assent and truth. The former is the belief that something is true. The latter is our confident reliance that something is true.

Information about Jesus Christ is familiar to many. And, some agree intellectually with the biblical facts as they relate to Jesus. But, being merely informed about Him is not the same "faith" described in the Bible. This type of faith requires that we are not only knowledgeable about Christ, but that we trust in Him, too.

Take a large passenger jet, for example. Our intellect tells us that it is built for flight. It's aerodynamic shape, wings, and powerful jet engines affirm this in our minds. Trust comes in when we actually step inside of it, strap ourself in our seat, and prepare for takeoff.

To know all about Christ and rattle off every verse in the Bible at will is impressive. But, do you trust, indisputably, that He died to absolve us of our sins? Bear in mind, this "saving faith"does not apply exclusively to "salvation." It's just as relevant to the Christian life. This is exactly the kind of "faith" we are to have in Jesus. This is "biblical faith."

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6; John 3:16; John 10:10; Acts 16:31; Romans 12:2

Prayer: Holy Father, form my life in Your Truth, and my heart in Your Love; free me from darkness and may You always keep me in the Light of Your Truth. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Susan

Video - Beth Moore: Free From Shame

Learn to be “eccentric” in Christ to live outside of the shame of our sin. Another great message from Bible teacher Beth Moore. Enjoy!  ~Eve

Our Holiness Is Attainable

“You are my Lord, because You have no need of my goodness.”  - Augustine of Hippo, Confessions

Among all of His other attributes, the immense "holiness" of God stands alone. There is nothing else that is more solemnly pronounced, nor with such frequency in Heaven itself than this (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).

Further, God applies His holiness as His assurance of His personal commitment (Psalm 89:35; Amos 4:2). It describes His glory and beauty, by which we use to honor Him, and to honor one another as He desires us to (1 Thessalonians 4:4; Ephesians 4:24). And, it reminds us that His holiness is His life (Ephesians 4:18).

I realize that this may all sound very intimidating to some of you. When we think of something being "holy" it sounds like something that is reserved only for an exclusive few (i.e., a VIP backstage pass). In my own mind I picture damp, dimly lit cathedrals with the monophonic tones of Gregorian chants reverberating off cold, stone walls!

We know that God is holy, but is it possible for us to be holy? We have a lot things going against us, I know, but what if holiness is something that is attainable for you and I. For the Christian, the hope for holiness is not only real, it is a necessity.

Hebrews 12:14 tells us outright that "without holiness no one will see the Lord." Of course, we could never be Holy as God is. He is "essentially" holy, we're not. Our holiness is obtained by our relationship with Christ. Our "practical" holiness grows as we spiritually mature.

Does this mean that our search for holiness concludes when we come to Christ? Not at all. Actually, we're just getting started! To make things easier let's put holiness into two categories. First, there's "positional" holiness. We inherit this when we are born again. The second is "practical" holiness, which we must constantly practice or work at.

God has some pretty big expectations of us when it comes to holiness. He expects that we conform to a lifestyle that exemplifies holiness (1 Peter 14:16), and to work on perfecting our holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1). Does this mean we have to live by a checklist? Of course not (2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:16-18).

Our achieving holiness is a joint effort between God and ourselves. He will support and assist us every step of the way. That is, if we cooperate and hand control over to Him. There are many qualities of holiness that He wants to promote within our lives. All He asks is that we allow Him to do so.

Can we just kick back and let God do what He needs to do? Not so much. Like anything of value, holiness will not be gained without a little sweat on our part. We must be active participants with God. Everyone must pull their own weight.

God didn't have to redeem us from sin and death, but He did by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ to take care of this for us, right? At the very minimum, in return, for this unselfish act, we should reciprocate in total surrender and holiness with our own lives (1 Peter 2:24 ).

Our ultimate goal, as a result of His mercies, is to become "holy and pleasing" to Him (Romans 12:1). The only way to get there is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and never stop pursuing holiness (Hebrews 12:2).

Scripture: Hebrews 12:10; Leviticus 11:45; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Philippians 1:10; 1 Timothy 6:11  

Prayer: Holy Father, renew me so I may help renew those around me. Amen

God bless you!

Alexa